Category: 1965 Topps

So a couple of other local traders (Mark Hoyle and Shane from Shoebox Legends) had dropped me a note that I should check out this LSC in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. I had been meaning to get over there for a couple of months now, as it’s only about 20 or so minutes from where I work.

Well this past Saturday on the return trip from a soccer game, I was able to stop into Central Sports Cards where John, the owner hooked me up with some set needs.

In all, I was able to cross off twenty-five, 1965 Tops cards bringing me down to just over 100 cards left to track down. I think the last couple of money cards might the Yaz and Bob Gibson. The LSC did have another dozen plus high series I need, so I will be venturing back soon.

Some minor stars of the 1960s — a group that was made 15 All-Star appearances, a couple of batting titles, and some near MVP Awards during their careers.

Among this grouping, the name Sterling Slaughter had me on some many levels. First, what a great name, second, the kid looks barely old enough to drive, and lastly, he almost looked like he belong on a card from present day, not 1965. With that, let’s see Mr. Slaughter was … Sterling Feore Slaughter, a right-hander stood at 5’11” and weighed 165 pounds according to Baseball-Reference.com. Sterling would pitch in the Majors for one season, 1964, where he went 2-4 with a 5.75 ERA as a swing-man starting six of the twenty games he took the hill. The 32 walks and 64 hits allowed in 51-plus innings certainly does not warrant a return trip to the bigs. He has been written up on a couple of blogs so I won’t rehash too much. Just one of those cards that makes you learn more about this great game.

Some rookie stars including ChiSox favorite, Ken Berry who earned a couple of Gold Gloves during his career. Pat Corrales would lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1983 World Series, only to be bested by the Orioles four games to one. And even though he didn’t make a post-season appearance, Al Ferrara can say he was part of three Dodger World Series teams (1963, 65, 66).

And to close out the ’65’s, a couple of nice team cards.

Next up, were some Red Sox I needed for my All-Time album. I didn’t have much time left as I raced through a couple of Red Sox boxes, but did manage to find these four I needed. I have a graded 1940 Play Ball of Foxx, but that’s in a separate graded Sox box as is my graded Smokey Joe Wood that I highlights a couple of months ago. Harry Agganis was a local legend, and his 1955 Topps commands a good chunk of money, so grabbing this for a quarter was fine with me.

Next, more Sox that will find out pages of favorite Sox players. The Grove will go in the All-Time album.

All-in-all, a very successful trip, and one I need to revisit for several hours. There’s certainly a lot of boxes that I didn’t get a chance to go through and who knows, maybe I’ll meet up with Mark or Shane there one day. Thanks again for the great tip guys!

So Saturday, I finally had put some “me” time on the calendar to head up to Wilmington, Massachusetts for the annual fall GBSCC Shriner’s Show. It would also be a chance to finally meet Mark Hoyle, and in turn a couple other bloggers which I’ll touch on below.

Since I left the show, I haven’t had to time to cross off lists, take pictures, or even really look at my spoils. I left the show and raced home to catch my daughters soccer game and then the usually son’s soccer game on Sunday and a variety of chores kept side-tracking me. I’ll have to go more in depth on more of the haul, but for the time being (stuck in training today), I’m going to try to bang this out this morning while in training.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

1959 Topps Set Needs: 111, including #1 Ford Frick and 8 high numbers cards and then one more high number thanks to Matt over at Number 5 Type Collection.

1965 Topps Set Needs: 78, including some a couple of Hall of Famers (Killebrew, Sphan second year) I was still in need of.

All-Time Red Sox Needs: 23, including four cards from the aforementioned Mark Hoyle.

I certainly saw a number of food issues from the 1970’s I was hoping to grab, but ran out of my budget money and time. My priorities here were to make a bigger dent into my ’59 and ’65 Topps sets and also try to find some Sox for my All-Time Collection. With that, lets jump in …

I needed these 1973 Topps cards as I had pulled them from my Sox collection and used then in the 1973 Topps set I am also buidling.

Same here with these 1968 Topps, have another copy of each of these in my ’68 set that I am building. This is Elston Howard’s last card of the one great Yankee backstop.

Some late 50’s Topps cards I needed for the Sox collection.

A bunch of early Bowman beauties here! 1949 Stan Spence, 1950 Walt Masterson, 1951’s Matt Batts and HoFer Lou Boudreau, and 1952 Vern Stephens. I absolutely love the artwork on these early 50s Bowman cards … maybe someday I’ll try working one one of those sets, probably the 1950 issue since I won’t have to worry about the Mantle or Mays rookies.

A well loved 1939 Play Ball Jim Tabor. Nicked named “Rawhide”, Tabor was a five-tool player before that phrase became part of the baseball vernacular. Tabor earned his moniker with his hustle, his win-at-any-cost attitude, and his toughness. The condition of this card fits his nickname quite well as I write this. His best year was 1941 in which he batted .279, slugged 16 homers, drove in 101 runners, while adding 17 steals. Over the course of an average 162-season per Baseball-Reference.com, Tabor was a .270/16/97/11 hitter.

Next up and my last purchase as I was quickly going around before heading out the door, a 1936 Goudey Rick Ferrell. I already have a graded PSA 4, 1935 Diamond Stars of the Hall of Famer, but that’s reserved in a box of graded Sox greats. I was able to grab this for less than a blaster of box at Target and looks better in person than this close up. For my All-Time Sox album, this card was perfect for crossing off Rick Ferrell. I also didn’t have one of these black and white Goudey, so that was a plus.

And finally, some collections adds thanks to Mark Hoyle!!! This was the first time I met Mark in person and I’m sure it won’t be the last!! He handed my a couple more 1967 Dexter Press photo cards of George Smith and Hank Fischer as well as some cards I had in my collection years ago but traded them away for something I was collecting more at that time.

These cards are part of a 24-card set that was produced my a Maine collector. They are cataloged as 1979 Early Red Sox Favorites in the Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards. Measuring a little larger than a standard size card at 2-5/8″ x 3-3/4″, these are printed in black and white. The set depicts players from the 1920s-1930s Red Sox and many of these features feature more than one player. These were just added to my All-Time Sox Collection want list (but still need to post above), but thanks to Mark I can cross off several!!

Here are a couple of the backs to the cards above. Again, if anyone has some of the others, I’ll gladly trade for them!

Lastly, one of the highlights to the show in addition to meeting Mark, was meeting Joel Freedman from OBC from Matt from Number 5 Type Collection. Matt had picked up a number of off-conditioned 1959 Topps high numbers for a buck a piece and knew I was collecting the set. Out of the blue and he said pick up that you need, so #533 Darrell Johnson was added to my set. Thanks Matt!! Mark introduced me to them and managed to chat for about 20-plus minutes (or maybe it was longer). This was the first time I had met other bloggers at a show like this. It really was a great example of how great this hobby can be! I know I’ll definitely try to hook up with Mark again a local show in Mansfield and there’s talk about getting together some night in Providence (RI) for dinner, drinks, and shop talk.

My apologies for any typos, run-on sentences, and the like, but wanted to post with the short time I had this morning. Thank you guys for making a great day even better!

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Also of note, I have some trade packages I need to get out the door in the next couple of days (Brian, Bert, John Miller, and Tony. Scott Crawford, still working on yours and probably close to an 600-800 count box at the moment). Also need to post a recent trade from Brian as well so a busy week ahead here at Off the Wall.

Ahh, another page down in my 1965 Topps set. This completed page was made from a recent trade with Shane over at Shoebox Legends. Thank you again Shane!!!

1965 Topps #136-144

Card that completed the page: 1965 Rookie Stars – Pirates (#143). On April 1, 1969, John Gelnar now with the Kansas City Royals, would be sent packing with Steve Whitaker to the Seattle Pilots for one Lou Piniella. All Sweet Lou did in 1969 was be named the American League Rookie of the Year. Besides looking like a space cadet, Jerry May actually had a 10-year career as a backup backstop.

Favorite card: Not sure I have one that really stands out. I pretty much like any World Series out there, especially back in the days when the had the box scores on the flip side.

Best photograph: The Cards Celebrate (#139), like the Chicago Cubs the other night, there’s nothing like watching the celebration of winning a World Series. Here the Redbirds have every right to jump for joy as they would defeat the New York Yankees. 1964 was the Yanks last shining moment till the mid-late 1970’s.

Best career: Bob Gibson (#138). A Hall of Famer and one of the most intimidating hurlers to ever step on the bump. He’s one of three guys on this page to throw Major League no-hitters. The other two—Monbouquette in 1962 and Dean Chance threw one as a Minnesota Twin in 1967. In August of ’71, Gibson tossed his against the would be World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates, 11-0.

Number of Red Sox: One. Bill Monbouquette (#142). As the Red Sox made a beeline for last place, Monbo threw a no-hitter against the White Sox on August 1. A tight 1-0 game, Boston scored its one run in the eighth inning off Early Wynn. Bill is also a member of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.

Past/Future Red Sox: Zero.

Interesting fact: Charlie James (#141)… James had a Friday-night-performance phenomenon that proved quite newsworthy for the 1962 season. On Friday nights he batted .411 with 23 hits and six of his eight home runs (with 23 RBIs). For the season, he batted .276 with 59 RBIs.

Hopefully I’ll come out of tomorrow’s GBSCC Shriner’s Show. Haven’t been to this event in maybe 6 years so looking forward to seeing what I’ll find!!!

ABOUT OFF THE WALL

Another Sox blog, another collector named Shane. I've been collecting for nearly 35 years, survived the junk wax era, changed collecting interests more than I can count, and seem to always be sorting something. Was blogging over there (otwbbcards.blogspot.com) but now here. Always love trading and finding cards I never knew existed.